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Friday, 2 August 2013

BMW i3

BMW launched it's i3 here in New
York City, with simultaneous debuts in London and Beijing.

BMW has unveiled its brand
new i3 electric car in a trio of synchronous events taking place in the
‘megacities’ of London, New York and Beijing. Built largely from carbonfibre,
the 2013 BMW i3 is the world’s first ‘premium’ electric car, but also one of the
most technologically advanced vehicles on sale.

Designed to provide a zero
emissions solution chiefly aimed at city centre dwellers, the new i3 goes on
sale in November, priced from £25,680 (approx. $39,000). However, a Range
Extender version complete with on-board generator will also be offered for
those who want to travel further. Is this the future of the car?The BMW i3 is a ‘compact’
car – but due to the unique nature of its design it offers a great deal of
space inside, being taller than a BMW X1 with a wider track than a BMW 7
Series.Conceived as an electric
vehicle from the very start, the i3 carries nothing superfluous and has all of
its components very cunningly positioned to maximise interior room and safety.The first thing anyone
wants to know about an electric vehicle is how far it can go on a single
battery charge. And in the i3’s case, your initial response may be one of
disappointment, with BMW saying it can cover between 80 and 100 miles (approx.
129-161km). Contrast that with the latest Nissan Leaf, which claims 124 miles
(approx. 200km).However, not only does BMW
quote this figure in terms of ‘everyday driving’, it also says that the
included 'Eco Pro' driving mode should increase this by 15%, with 'Eco Pro+'
extending it 15% again.BMW has been researching
electric car use in the real world since 2009, with prototype programmes
involving the MINI E and the later 1 Series ActiveE. And it feels that the i3’s
range should be more than enough for the vast majority of daily commutes.This is supported by a UK
government report that found the average British daily commute is around 25
miles (approx. 40km). If that still doesn’t satisfy you, there is always the i3
Range Extender, which, with its on-board petrol generator, can travel up to 180
miles (approx. 290km).Both versions of the i3 are
powered by BMW’s own design of electric motor, with the Range Extender using
its on-board generator to supplement the batteries rather than drive the wheels
directly.The motor produces 170hp
and 184lb ft of torque, the latter being available the moment you touch the
accelerator, ensuring superb response. Since it also weighs just 50kg, it sets
a new benchmark for electric vehicles. BMW describes it as smooth running with
minimal vibrations and low noise levels.When we think of electric
vehicles it’s all too easy to imagine golf carts or milk floats – things that
are clumsy and slow. The BMW i3 should dispel this myth immediately.Thanks to that powerful
electric motor and a kerbweight of just 1,195kg, the i3 does 0-62mph (approx.
100kmh) in just 7.2 seconds – hot hatch territory. The heavier Range
Extender falls slightly behind at 7.9 seconds over the same benchmark, but both
reach a top speed of 93mph (approx. 150kmh).The secret to the i3’s low
1,195kg weight is in its optimised construction and the materials that it’s
made from. It becomes the first ‘mass produced’ car to be built largely from
carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) – which is both very light and immensely
strong. Formula One cars use similar technology.Other weight savings come
from the extensive use of aluminium; forged suspension components save 15% over
standard equivalents, for example, while all the screws and bolts are aluminium
instead of steel.Conceiving the i3 as an
electric car right from the start has allowed BMW to finesse every single
element of the vehicle’s design. Take the electric motor – which is exactly as
powerful as it needs to be to deliver satisfactory performance and range.
Increasing this would also have meant increasing weight.The obsession with weight
and efficiency has even influenced the wheels. These forged aluminium 19-inch
(approx. 48cm) items are lighter than they would be in steel, and
unusually narrow. This helps achieve a good ‘contact patch’ between the tyre
and the road surface while enabling them to cut smoothly through the airFollowing in long BMW
tradition, the i3 is rear-wheel drive – although in this case the electric
motor is also mounted over the back axle, instead of under the bonnet.
Carefully positioning the batteries under the floor also gives the i3 a very
low centre of gravity, which should aid stability when cornering.This whole story has coverd by msn.com.